The Combine's Here, Bitch!

[Direckshun]

http://www.arrowheadpride.com/2014/2...-list-workouts

2014 NFL Combine schedule: TV channel, online streaming, invite list, workouts and more
By Matt Conner
on Feb 20 2014, 10:12a

he road to the NFL Draft is longer in 2014 than any other offseason given the league's decision to push it back a few weeks to May 8-10. For the next three months, draftniks will circle around prospects like hawks, analyzing their every move and weighing the pros and cons of each player.

The process starts en masse this week with the start of the 2014 NFL Combine in Indianapolis. If you love the Draft, then this is a big week for you.

For those who are new to the NFL Combine, it's a seven-day event broken up into four-day shifts for each position group (quarterbacks to punters). Each group comes to Indy for four days to meet with representatives from each NFL team for medical assessments, interviews and a number of workouts. It's termed the Underwear Olympics for that reason, as teams fall in and out of love with prospects based on 40-yard dash times and vertical leaps.

The quick guide to the Combine

• NFL Network will televise; NFL.com will stream
• Andy Reid (Thursday, 2:15 p.m.) and John Dorsey (Friday, 12:15 p.m.) will speak to the media (full schedule here)
• Workouts take place Saturday-Tuesday
• Here are the players invited

Now that you have the basics, let's dive into a little more what's going down this week in Indianapolis.

The Combine workout schedule

Here are the days the actual workouts for each position group:

Saturday, Feb. 22: Tight Ends, Offensive Linemen, Special Teams

Sunday, Feb.23: Quarterbacks, Running Backs, Wide Receivers

Monday, Feb. 24: Defensive Line, Linebackers

Tuesday, Feb. 25: Defensive Backs

There are four groups of players arriving as shown above. Each group has four days of events.

Day 1: Travel to Indianapolis* ~ Registration ~ Hospital Pre-Exam & X-rays ~ Orientation ~ Interviews

Day 2: Measurements ~ Medical Examinations ~ Media ~ Interviews

Day 3: NFLPA Meeting ~ Psychological Testing ~ PK/ST Workout ~ Bench Press ~ Interviews

Day 4: On-Field Workout (timing, stations, skill drills) ~ Departure from Indianapolis

With the first arrivals coming on Wednesday, that puts the first day of workouts on Saturday.

The players invited

Every top college football player will likely be in attendance in Indianapolis, even if some of the top athletes won't participate in the workouts. The NFL invited over 300 players to attend. Teddy Bridgewater to Jadeveon Clowney, your favorite college players will likely be there.

Who is eligible to be invited to the Combine? Basically, seniors without college eligibility left and those who have declared early.

And how are players selected to the Combine? Read this:

Participants are determined annually by a Selection Committee. The Directors of both National and BLESTO scouting services, which combined represent twenty-five NFL teams, are joined by members of various NFL player personnel departments to form the committee. The participating NFL executives can rotate on a yearly basis, and remain anonymous. ALL eligible players are reviewed and voted on by the committee members. Each athlete receiving the necessary number of votes, by position, is then extended an invitation. While it is not a perfect science, the goal of the committee is to invite every player that will be drafted in the ensuing NFL Draft.

You can find the full list of players expected to attend at the bottom of this post. While the list is comprehensive, there are a few players every year who are drafted but didn't get invited to the Combine.

The workouts

The most important one is not a workout -- it's the interview. Teams will have the opportunity to interview players where they'll get about 15 minutes with them. With so little time, the questions have to be precise and all have a purpose.

The second most important item there is getting the medical check-up -- essentially confirming that the player is healthy or checking out previous injuries. Team doctors will want this information so the GMs and coaches can make an informed decision.

Some of the other workouts, via Big Blue View:

40-yard dash: Measures straight line speed over a distance. Not very important for non-skill position players, but coming from the 40-yard dash is the "10-yard split." That is the time it takes to travel the first 10 yards of the event and gives a measurement as to the player's explosion and first step. Very important for defensive and offensive linemen. Dontari Poe had a 10-yard split of 1.7 at 330 pounds, which is decent for a linebacker.Bruce Irvin at 235 pounds had a 10-yard split of 1.57, which is a good number for a defensive back. Both help push those players into the middle of the first round.

Bench press: Fairly simple, it measures upper body strength. Moreso it shows if you have stayed in good condition over the offseason. Poor numbers here possibly indicate not working hard enough.

Vertical and Broad jump: Another measurement of explosion and lower body strength. Also important for wide receivers and defensive backs to show off their leaping ability.

3-cone drill: Essentially a change of direction drill. Most important for skill position players. Shows off lateral agility and ability to accelerate out of a turn. One of the drills that translates best on the field. A good score in the 3 cone is often a marker for a high draft pick.

20/60-yard shuttles: Shows the ability to come to a complete stop and accelerate. Obviously important for any position and a good score here is indicative of explosion and body control. As you can see, explosion is a big factor here and one that the NFL is keen to see.

Position-specific drills: Each position has specific drills that test for many different attributes. Change of direction and hip swing for defensive backs, hands skills for wide receivers during the "gauntlet," kick slide drills for the offensive linemen, power for the defensive linemen in hitting bag drills and accuracy for quarterbacks in throwing drills.

How do I watch the Combine?

NFL Network will televise some of it.

NFL.com will stream the action.

KCChiefs.com will have full video of Andy Reid and John Dorsey's press conferences but will not stream them live.

[planetdoc]

Originally Posted by OldSchool

Alex Carrington, Ropati Pitoitua, Frostee Rucker, Red Bryant, etc. All pros who can be plugged into our 3-4 at 5-tech and I guarantee you they will all perform better than Hageman in 2014.

probably. Rookie defensive players as a whole have "growing pains" compared to vets.

Originally Posted by OldSchool

Donald gives us what you can't find without trading for Geno Atkins or Henry Melton.

4-3 players. The chiefs dont run that system. It sounds like you are advocating switching to that, and chiefs brass (dorsey) has recently gone on record stating that they are staying with the 3-4.

Originally Posted by OldSchool

I don't know how many times I have to say this but we need a dominant interior penetrator

I thought that is what Poe was supposed to be. He did get 4.5 sacks this yr from the NT position which is pretty good.

Originally Posted by OldSchool

far more than we need a fat run stuffer like you are advocating for.

that is not what I am advocating. I am advocating for a 3 down player. Hagemon can pass rush, defend the run, and block passing lanes.

Originally Posted by OldSchool

We often got 0 pressure up the middle without sending Berry or Johnson, that really needs to change and

agree.

Originally Posted by OldSchool

Donald can immediately provide that.

doubt in a 3-4, or only as a situational pass rusher. Chiefs already have to many of those type players. They need someone who can play every down.

[Dunerdr]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

He did pretty damn good.

He and Jace Amaro should be around when we pick.

Who has the higher ceiling? I believe that's what Dorsey drafts for.

[OldSchool]

Originally Posted by planetdoc

4-3 players. The chiefs dont run that system. It sounds like you are advocating switching to that, and chiefs brass (dorsey) has recently gone on record stating that they are staying with the 3-4.
In today's NFL, the base 3-4 is becoming all but obselete. It's a passing league, your 5-techs are situational players, not your nickel and dime pass rusher. Tell me this, what defense did we mainly line up in against the Broncos?


I thought that is what Poe was supposed to be. He did get 4.5 sacks this yr from the NT position which is pretty good.

Sure, he flashed the ability at times, but he was hardly consistent. There were too many times when just 1 blocker was enough to stop him. When Poe was neutralized by 2 blockers, the other interior pass rusher couldn't ever win his 1 on 1 matchup. Hali and Houston would take wide lanes and get washed out of the play, there was almost always a pocket for the QB to step up into. I don't see how you could think that Donald wouldn't solve that problem. Plug him in and everyone's sack totals would increase.


that is not what I am advocating. I am advocating for a 3 down player. Hagemon can pass rush, defend the run, and block passing lanes.
Sure, he has the potential to do it. But he disappears far too often for me to consider with our only top 75 pick. Donald absolutely guarantees that you will get improved pass rush production from the interior. He doesn't win with just his speed, he uses strength and exceptional technique as well. His motor and work ethic is second to none whereas Hageman is average in his effort.

Hageman career numbers: 91 tackles, 24 TFL, 10 sacks, 2 FF, 10 PDF.

Donald in 2013: 59 tackles, 28.5 TFL, 11 sacks, 4 FF, 3 PDF.

That's one season vs Hageman's entire 4 year career.


doubt in a 3-4, or only as a situational pass rusher. Chiefs already have to many of those type players. They need someone who can play every down.

We don't have anything close to Donald. None of our backup DL players can even run close to what Donald was able to run. None of them have his combination of technique, power, and speed. If they did, you can bet that Sutton would actually play them. And again, we barely even line up in our supposed base 3-4.

Donald, just like Atkins, plays far bigger than his listed height/size.

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by Inmem58

Direckshun....what do you think about James Jones in FA (not sure what he's going be asking) and draft Mike Evans for a potential TE spot? I know this isn't madden, but it's a move that happens quite a bit in the NFL. Moving positions that is.

Well, Evans won't last to us, and I hate the position switch. After the ultimate burn that was Johnny Baldwin, I've started to run cold on size in WRs, to be honest. I'm much more enthused about speed, hand size, and route running ability. Instead of drafting a stud WR and making them convert, just draft a stud TE who's already ready to make noise in Jace Amaro.

Jones is a great #3, decent enough #2. Of course, Avery's a solid #2, and I think Jenkins can become a #2 this season if he commits.

So if you can't sport a great #2, attacking opponents' secondary depth with two or three good #2 talents is a good strategy. Of course, if we also add a major WR in the draft (like, say, Cooks in the 1st or Ellington in the 3rd), we're doing even better.

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by Jakemall

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/...rive_web#gid=3

Breakdown for those who might want it.

This is outstanding. Thanks.

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by RunKC

Idk if I want Calvin Pryor. Isn't he far more of a SS? Didn't seem like he's a rangy guy who covers space.

Not sure if I want Pryor either. If we take a safety in the 1st, it needs to be a guy who can man the single-high FS spot. Pryor basically gives you Berry.

Clinton-Dix has single-high potential, but I'm not certain enough on that to pass on the really good TE, WR, or DL talent that'll be available.

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by Dunerdr

Who has the higher ceiling? I believe that's what Dorsey drafts for.

Seferian-Jenkins does. Amaro's basically Day One ready right now.

I agree with your analysis, by the way.

[planetdoc]

Originally Posted by OldSchool

In today's NFL, the base 3-4 is becoming all but obselete.

http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/article...7-7a807cd84f07

REID: “Yeah I like the thirty-four. I like some of the things that it gives you. In particular, once you drop the nose and fire yourself into a nickel situation you use those guys as rush and drop guys. It allows you to be a little creative with some of your blitz packages.

Originally Posted by OldSchool

That's one season vs Hageman's entire 4 year career.

They didnt exactly play the same positions. Although hageman played all over, most of his snaps were at nose.

Originally Posted by OldSchool

We don't have anything close to Donald.

The chiefs already use Bailey and Catapano as situational pass rushers .They are about the same weight as Donald. Maybe Howard, Bailey, or Catapano can become an everydown DE....I dont know. I dont think they are there yet.

[Direckshun]

I'd like to give planetdoc some props for really bringing it in this thread. Haven't been too familiar with him, and I don't agree with his take on Donald, but it's refreshing to see somebody bring it.

I do join with Sorter on the , however, with the image that shows both DTs in 3T position.

[OldSchool]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

Not sure if I want Pryor either. If we take a safety in the 1st, it needs to be a guy who can man the single-high FS spot. Pryor basically gives you Berry.

Clinton-Dix has single-high potential, but I'm not certain enough on that to pass on the really good TE, WR, or DL talent that'll be available.

I hope both of those players get taken in the top 20 so that more WR, LB, CB, and DL talent can fall to us.

If Dennard tests poorly with his average length, I expect him to be available at our pick as well. Do you take him if he runs a 4.5-4.6?

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by OldSchool

I hope both of those players get taken in the top 20 so that more WR, LB, CB, and DL talent can fall to us.

If Dennard tests poorly with his average length, I expect him to be available at our pick as well. Do you take him if he runs a 4.5-4.6?

I probably would not. You gotta remember there's going to be some really good options handy at WR, TE, and DL at 23. Dennard is still draftable at 4.5 speed, but not as much as some of those other great options.

If he runs a 4.6, he's all but dead to me. Slower WRs can succeed in the NFL sometimes, but slower CBs are toast.

[Jakemall]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

This is outstanding. Thanks.

I don't know why a collection of data isn't easier to find on the combine results for each player.

[OldSchool]

Originally Posted by planetdoc

http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/article...7-7a807cd84f07

REID: “Yeah I like the thirty-four. I like some of the things that it gives you. In particular, once you drop the nose and fire yourself into a nickel situation you use those guys as rush and drop guys. It allows you to be a little creative with some of your blitz packages.
Again, the sub packages are what we run most of the time. I don't know how many times I have to tell you that. It's like talking to a brick wall.


They didnt exactly play the same positions. Although hageman played all over, most of his snaps were at nose.
Hageman was counted on to provide pressure and disruption on run plays just as much as Donald was. Pretty poor excuse for his lack of production.


The chiefs already use Bailey and Catapano as situational pass rushers .They are about the same weight as Donald. Maybe Howard, Bailey, or Catapano can become an everydown DE....I dont know. I dont think they are there yet.

Sure, they use Bailey and Catapano in those roles, but they are mostly ineffective pass rushers and are too easily neutralized. That's like saying we don't need to draft a Free Safety, we already have Kendrick Lewis; or, we don't need a WR, we already have Donnie Avery/Jenkins/Wessler.

Yeah, we don't need this, not at all.



Look when Florida State tries to double team Donald, he's just too quick for them.




This won't help our run defense at all, no way. He has to hold up blockers and wait for our LBs to make the play, not disrupt the play himself by demolishing the double team of two much bigger players. Btw, that's what you call being a play making DT and not just a space eater. Before you ask, yes he can hold his own ground when he actually does get blocked as well and is pretty strong at the point of attack, especially for a guy his size.



Keep in mind, these aren't flashes, he does this kind of thing on a routine basis. He's more polished than Geno Atkins was coming out of college in part because he studied Atkins' game in the NFL and applied it to his own, which allowed him to increase his production even more as a senior despite facing better competition and more double teams than before. Every offensive coordinators knows to look out for Donald and game plans against him but no one was able to shut him out.

Now, use your imagination for a second, though you don't seem to have one, and think about how good our pass rush can be once you have this lineup (nickel and dime packages to be exact, which take up about 60% of our defensive snaps):

Hali - - - Poe - - Donald - - - Houston.

At least one of these guys will be guaranteed a 1 on 1 battle and maybe as many as 3 of them if the offense doesn't keep in an extra blocker.

Poe will take the attention of the LG and C, leaving Donald alone vs a typically less mobile/athletic RG. Houston will be facing the RT with possibly a TE chipping him, or it will be Hali facing a chip block/double team.

This would be Poe getting double teamed, Hali and Houston locked up on the outside, and Donald facing a 1 on 1.



If you draft Aaron Donald, this type of pressure in the middle is all but guaranteed, especially with the success of smaller guys like Atkins and Melton (recent), Randle, Sapp, etc. in the history of the league. Donald's combination of athleticism, quickness, power, and technique is too good to not translate to NFL success. He checks off everything in the box except for one thing, his height. His arm length of 32 5/8" is actually fine for an interior DL player and fringe for a 5-tech.

[The Franchise]

Donald is a goddamn pipe dream now. No way he makes it past the Cowboys.

[OldSchool]

Still question his power and ability to use his leverage? Here is Donald vs one of the top OG prospects in this draft in the "road grader" Cyril Richardson at Senior Bowl practice.

Donald: 6'1", 285 pounds with 32 5/8" arms.

Richardson: 6'5", 343 pounds (at the time), 34 5/8" arms.